Frequently Asked Questions

Because the Craft has a language, culture, and organizational structure that outsiders do not understand. A non-Masonic developer will not know the difference between a Blue Lodge and a Scottish Rite Valley, will not understand why member privacy matters so deeply, and will not appreciate the dignity that your organization's digital presence should convey. With 15+ years of web development experience and firsthand knowledge of the Fraternity, I build websites that get it right the first time, without the endless back-and-forth of educating a developer about what Freemasonry is and how your organization actually works.

Absolutely. Redesigning outdated Masonic websites is one of the most common projects I take on. I start with a thorough audit of your existing site to understand what content to preserve, what to improve, and what to retire. Content and images are migrated to the new platform, URLs are redirected so you do not lose search engine rankings, and the result is a modern, fast, and accessible website that properly represents your Lodge. Whether your current site is built on WordPress, Wix, Squarespace, GoDaddy, or plain HTML, I can migrate it.

Yes, and this is a fundamental part of every Masonic site I build. Public pages are designed for prospective members and community visitors, covering your Lodge's history, meeting schedule, how to join, and community involvement. Private content like trestleboards, meeting minutes, member directories, and financial reports is protected behind a secure login system with role-based access control. Search engines cannot index private content, and unauthenticated visitors cannot access it. The two layers work together seamlessly so that your Lodge is both welcoming to the public and protective of member privacy.

Yes. Every site I build includes at least a contact form with email notification routing. For Lodges focused on membership growth, I build dedicated petition inquiry forms that capture the prospect's information and automatically notify the appropriate officer, whether that is the Secretary, Membership Chairman, or Investigation Committee. Forms can include custom fields, dropdown selections, and automated confirmation emails to the inquirer. All form submissions are stored in a dashboard for easy reference and follow-up tracking.

Yes. I build all new websites to WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility standards from the ground up. For existing sites, I offer comprehensive accessibility audits that combine automated scanning with manual testing using screen readers and keyboard navigation. The result is a detailed remediation plan with every issue prioritized by severity. I then implement the fixes and provide documentation for maintaining compliance going forward. Accessibility is not just a legal consideration; it reflects the Masonic commitment to welcoming all who seek more Light.

Yes. I offer maintenance and support plans that include security updates, daily backups, uptime monitoring, performance optimization, and a monthly allocation of content update hours. Premium plans add priority support with same-day response, quarterly analytics reviews, and annual design refreshes. You can also request feature enhancements or new development work at a preferred client rate. The goal is to let you focus on the Craft while I ensure your website stays secure, current, and performing well.

Yes. I handle full site migrations from virtually any platform: WordPress, Wix, Squarespace, GoDaddy Website Builder, Weebly, Joomla, Drupal, and even static HTML sites. The migration includes all content, images, documents, and downloadable files. I set up 301 redirects from your old URLs to the new ones so that any existing links and search engine rankings are preserved. If your domain registrar needs to change, I walk you through that process as well. The goal is a seamless transition with zero downtime.

Yes. I am experienced working within Grand Lodge branding guidelines and understand that constituent bodies must adhere to specific requirements regarding logos, seals, color usage, and disclaimers. Before beginning design, I review your Grand Lodge's branding standards and incorporate them into the project. If your Grand Lodge does not have formal web guidelines, I design with appropriate respect for established Masonic symbols and traditions. The result is a site that is uniquely yours while remaining fully compliant with your jurisdiction's requirements.

Timelines depend on scope and complexity. A standard Lodge website typically takes 4 to 6 weeks from kickoff to launch. A more complex project like a multi-body York Rite or Scottish Rite site usually takes 6 to 10 weeks. Custom web applications with database design and advanced features may take 3 to 6 months. I provide a detailed timeline during the proposal phase so you know exactly what to expect. The most common factor that affects timelines is content readiness, so I encourage Lodges to start gathering content early in the process.

Pricing depends on the scope of the project. A well-built Lodge website with public pages, a member area, and a content management system typically starts in the range of a few thousand dollars and scales with complexity. Multi-body sites, custom applications, and e-commerce features increase the investment accordingly. I provide a detailed, itemized proposal after our discovery session so there are no surprises. Every proposal includes a clear scope, timeline, and fixed price so you can present it to your Lodge with confidence.

Yes. I integrate secure payment processing through Stripe for a wide range of Masonic use cases: event registration with ticket sales, dues and per capita payments, donation processing with recurring gift support, merchandise sales, and fundraising campaigns. All payments are PCI-compliant and support major credit cards, debit cards, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. You receive detailed transaction reporting and automated receipts are sent to every payer.

I build with Next.js, React, and TypeScript, hosted on Vercel, with Sanity CMS for content management. This modern technology stack delivers exceptional performance, security, and developer experience. Sites load in under two seconds, score 90 or above on Google Lighthouse, and are optimized for search engines out of the box. The content management system is intuitive enough for any officer to use, and the platform scales effortlessly whether you have 50 visitors a month or 50,000.

Yes. You own everything: the design, the code, the content, and all project assets. There is no vendor lock-in. If you ever want to move your site to a different developer or host, you are free to do so with full access to the source code and documentation. I believe in building long-term relationships based on the quality of my work, not on contractual entrapment.